Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people have (a) opted out after being auto-enrolled into a workplace pension and (b) saved more than the auto-enrolment minimum contribution in Carshalton and Wallington constituency in the most recent period for which figures are available.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Automatic enrolment has achieved a quiet revolution through getting employees into the habit of pension saving, and reversing the decline in workplace pension participation in the decade prior to these reforms. Since automatic enrolment started in 2012 participation rates have been transformed with 87% of eligible employees saving into a workplace pension in 2018, up from 55% in 2012.
The Department does not hold data for individual constituencies in relation to opt outs or the number of individuals who have saved above the automatic enrolment minimum contribution level. However, we do know that overall around 9% of automatically enrolled workers have chosen to opt out which is significantly below original estimates; and our latest evaluation report shows that, in April 2017, approximately 5.9 million eligible employees were already meeting the April 2019 minimum contribution rates.
I am providing the following information about the impact of automatic enrolment in your constituency, as of August 2019:
In the Carshalton and Wallington constituency, since 2012, approximately 11,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 1,530 employers have met their duties.
Automatic Enrolment Evaluation Report 2018, available via the following weblink: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/764964/Automatic_Enrolment_Evaluation_Report_2018.pdf.
The Pensions Regulator’s data on Automatic enrolment declaration of compliance by constituency, available via the following weblink: https://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/en/document-library/research-and-analysis/data-requests
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reported customs delays at East Midlands airport on the delivery of category 1 medicines.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.
The department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:
For any products that require air freight, such as some medical radioisotopes, the Department is continuing to work with all suppliers to ensure this is in place ahead of 31 October. The Department can confirm that all relevant suppliers now have plans in place or are already airfreighting into the United Kingdom.
The Department is also undertaking joint operational testing, with key suppliers and other Government Departments (Border Delivery Group, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force) at East Midlands airport to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods. This testing includes medical radioisotopes.
The Department is in active communication with the British Nuclear Medicine Society as well as with the Royal College of Radiologists and the UK Radiopharmacy Group.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on the cost of procuring equipment in the NHS.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.
The sustainability of the National Health Service is an absolute priority for the Government. We recognise that suppliers may incur additional storage costs for stockpiling medicines or switching to air freight as part of preparations for a potential ‘no deal’ EU exit. We have been working closely with industry to minimise costs and support medical suppliers taking part in the contingency programme.
We are also clear that in any negotiations on future trade agreements, we could not agree to any proposals on pricing or access that would put NHS finances at risk or reduce clinician and patient choice.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with representatives from the British Nuclear Medicine Society on the delivery of medical radioisotopes.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Department is doing everything appropriate to prepare for leaving the European Union. We want to reassure patients that our plans should ensure the uninterrupted supply of medicines and medical products once we have left the EU.
The department, as part of our EU exit preparations, is implementing a multi-layered approach to mitigate potential disruption to supply, which consists of stockpiling where possible, securing freight capacity, changing or clarifying regulatory requirements, procuring additional warehousing, working closely with industry to improve trader readiness and putting in place the National Supply Disruption Response to manage potential shortages. Further details can be found at the following link:
For any products that require air freight, such as some medical radioisotopes, the Department is continuing to work with all suppliers to ensure this is in place ahead of 31 October. The Department can confirm that all relevant suppliers now have plans in place or are already airfreighting into the United Kingdom.
The Department is also undertaking joint operational testing, with key suppliers and other Government Departments (Border Delivery Group, HM Revenue and Customs, Border Force) at East Midlands airport to ensure the uninterrupted flow of goods. This testing includes medical radioisotopes.
The Department is in active communication with the British Nuclear Medicine Society as well as with the Royal College of Radiologists and the UK Radiopharmacy Group.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans he has to issue guidance to businesses on the extent of the continuity of EU Free Trade Agreements with EFTA countries after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government is committed to ensuring that businesses are prepared for the UK to leave the EU on 31 October. This includes accurate, up-to-date information on how the trading environment will change and guidance on actions they need to take.
Guidance for business on the trade continuity agreements signed with EFTA states is available on GOV.UK. This includes the text of the agreement, a summary document and a Parliamentary Reports, which explains any significant changes from existing terms.
Furthermore, No Deal export guides in a No Deal scenario are also available for Switzerland, Norway and Iceland:
A summary of the UK-Switzerland-Liechtenstein Trade Agreement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/summary-of-the-uk-switzerland-liechtenstein-trade-agreement
This guidance is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is up-to-date and provides businesses with relevant advice.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, at which forthcoming EU meetings on food and drink will UK officials not be present.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions her Department has had with Manufacturing Northern Ireland on preparations for (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal and (b) the UK leaving the EU under the Prime Minister’s proposals announced on 3 October 2019.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
Ministers and officials from BEIS have engaged extensively with manufacturing businesses. We have stepped up efforts to ensure businesses across the UK, including in Northern Ireland, are prepared to leave the EU on 31 October, through enhanced national communication and engagement campaigns. Get Ready Roadshow events took place in Derry/Londonderry on 7 October and in Belfast on 8 October. Through the Business Readiness Fund, funding has been allocated for actions specifically delivered and targeted in Northern Ireland – in addition to UK wide applications covering Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on Northern Irish businesses of the Government's proposals of 2 October 2019 on the UK's exit from the EU.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal on businesses in Northern Ireland with regard to the imposition of checks on both the North-South and the East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with representatives of Northern Irish industry on the effect of the Prime Minister’s proposed EU exit deal and the imposition of a North-South and an East-West border.
Answered by James Duddridge
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.